By Steve Kim

So what's next for WBA light heavyweight titlist, Dmitry Bivol, who decisioned tough contender Isaac Chilemba on August 4th in Atlantic City, New Jersey?

His manager, Vadim Kornilov, told BoxingScene.com - "He just wants to unify, he wants to unify with anybody that's available. We're looking at a December date, trying to figure out who he can fight."

That may not be realistic given that IBF titlist Artur Beterbiev is scheduled to face Callum Johnson on October 6th -  and showcased by Eddie Hearn's new streaming platform partnership with DAZN, and WBC belt-holder Adonis Stevenson faces his mandatory challenger, Oleksandr Gvozdyk, in early December and likely on Showtime, and newly minted WBO champion, Eleider Alvarez, will be facing Sergey Kovalev, in a rematch bound for HBO.

HBO was attempting to build to a year-end unification fight between Bivol and Kovalev. The network had been building towards that contest since last year.

Kovalev, who held the WBO title, was unexpectedly knocked out in the seventh round in the main event of the August 4th card - and the Russian puncher has a rematch clause which he plans to exercise.  

Bivol (14-0, 11 KO's) may have to settle for a lesser fight for the time being.

But Kornilov remains undaunted - "We're trying to get the biggest name we can to get Dmitry more exposure fighting top guys."

Steve Kim is the news editor for BoxingScene.com.